How To Knit With Natural Sock Yarn

In just two days it's officially Socktober! Are you as excited as we are? As we were getting ready for this joyous time of year, I came across a post I had written back in July 2019 when we were running our Summer Sock KAL; Our Love For Natural Sock Yarn (And How To Care For It!). 

Over the years, our love of socks and natural sock yarn has continued to grow, so I thought this was the perfect time to update that original blog post and talk about why we love natural sock yarn!

When we say 'natural sock yarn', we simply mean yarn that is plastic free and non-superwash. When it comes to choosing a sock yarn, it's become the norm for knitters to reach for a superwash blend with nylon added for strength, and I can see why. Firstly, the convenience of being able to pop your socks in the washing machine is a huge bonus, and secondly, we know the addition of nylon gives strength to yarn and will make your socks more hard-wearing and less likely to get holes (though this isn't a guarantee!). And if that is your favourite yarn for sock knitting, I'm not going to tell you you're wrong, because, at the end of the day, you do you! But some drawbacks come with using superwash yarns that outweigh the convenience, especially if we are considering how sustainable our new cast-on is. Let's take a look!

The Superwash Process

We have written extensively about superwash yarns and why they are not always the most sustainable choice, so if you missed those articles check out 'Why Is Superwash Yarn Not Sustainable', 'Are There Sustainable Superwash Options' and 'Superwash & Non-Superwash - The Indie Dyer Perspective With Karida Collins Of Neighbourhood Fiber Co.'

But the short version is this; 75% of superwash yarns use the Chlorine-Hercosett process which uses harsh chemicals to burn off the scales found on the surface of wool (these are what make it felt!) and then coats it in a polyamide-epichlorohydrin resin, a type of plastic which is why you'll also find superwash yarn described as 'plastic-coated'. Over time, this plastic coating will wear off as you wash your yarn, depositing microplastics into the water systems. The same problem is created by having nylon in the yarn too. So what's the alternative? You can explore more sustainable superwash options (see 'Are There Sustainable Superwash Options', or you can try knitting with a natural sock yarn.

Feeling a little apprehensive? I get it! You want to make sure you make a pair of socks that are going to stand the test of time, and a 100% wool yarn makes you a little nervous. Let's take a look at some of the ways yarn producers are creating natural yarns specifically with socks in mind!

What Makes A Great Natural Sock Yarn

The Fibre:

Socks have traditionally been knit out of wool, and there's a good reason for that. Hardwearing, temperature regulating, and moisture-wicking, it's no wonder it has always been the fibre of choice for socks. It's also very elastic, which is so essential for both a comfortable fit and for retaining shape after wearing. To create a stronger sock yarn, we are now seeing spinners and yarn companies adding natural alternatives to nylon to strengthen such as mohair and silk. They also tend you use a wool breed with a long staple which adds to the strength of the yarn. If you'd like to learn more about the different characteristics of yarn, check out 'Exploring Fibre: Wool'. (https://making-stories.com/blogs/blog/2020-6-9-what-is-breed-specific-yarn)

The Twist:

You will often hear people talking about how much twist a yarn will have. This simply refers to how tightly a yarn is spun, and it can affect the strength of a thread; the tighter the spin, the stronger the yarn. Natural sock yarns will often have a high twist for this reason!

Over the years, we have discovered a plethora of gorgeous natural sock yarns, and we're so happy to be carrying a selection in our webshop. If you'd like to check them out, click the button below!

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While choosing the right yarn for your project is super important, there are still things we can do to make sure we're going to end up with hardwearing socks that will last years to come. Let's look at things to consider when working with natural sock yarns. 

The Gauge:

There's a reason sock needles are always so tiny. A tighter gauge will give you longer-lasting socks as there is less room for the stitches to move around. A looser gauge leads to the stitches rubbing against each other, causing friction and wear.

The Stitch Pattern:

The pattern you choose for your socks can have a significant impact on how long your socks last, particularly in the areas that take a lot of wear. There's a reason you never see fun lace details on heel flaps, they wouldn't last a week! Often you will see designers add slipped stitches to 'high-traffic' areas such as these to create a more durable fabric. They look pretty nice too!

Washing Your Socks

Hand washing your knitted socks is obviously not as easy as throwing them in the washing machine, but it is easy and not as time-consuming as people think. By investing in a good wool wash such as Euclan or Soak, all you need to do is give them a good soak, gently squeezing out any air bubbles and making sure they are completely submerged. Leave them for about an hour and lay flat to dry. The most important things to remember are to never have your water too hot and don't agitate your knitting, this will lead to felting, and never wring out your hand knits, or you'll be left with a misshapen sock. Roll them in a towel to take out any excess water.

Mending Your Socks

You've made socks that you love, and you never want to wear anything else! It doesn't matter that you've picked a durable wool yarn with a high twist and knit to a tight gauge with slipped stitches at the heel (phew!). At some point, you're going to discover some wear and tear. At one time, sock darning was not only a way of life but a necessity, which has, unfortunately, gone out of style. It's the perfect way to breathe new life into a well-loved item, and for some, it doesn't stop there. If you find mending a chore, check out Visible Creative Mending from Flora Collingwood-Norris. She turns woolly holes into works of art, and it's a great way to add your own creative spin to your mending!

What is your favourite sock yarn? Share in the comments below!